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Stefan Viberg celebrating an ace in Appelscha (Photo by Appelscha team 2013)

Interview with Stefan Viberg (SV), Sweden and Örebro

This interview was done the 6th of November 2013. Interviewer is Hans Bergström (HB).

HB: First of all congratulations to a great season of 2013 and of course the two gold and one silver at the Senior European Championship in Appelscha.

Did you expect this success before going to Appelscha?

SV: Thank you Hans. No, then I would lie. I thought we had a good chance to take the team gold and in the individual my goal was be a finalist.

HB: So please tell our readers who is Stefan Viberg?

SV: I am 52 years old and I have played minigolf since I was about 10-11 years old. I was born and raised in Ludvika, and moved to Örebro in 1989. I am working at a company called EMBA Machinery. I live together with my partner Ylva.

HB: Looking back on the team play in Appelscha. The Swedish team and the German team had a close battle all the way to the end. At what point did you feel that it could be gold?

SV: I thought and hoped for the gold already from the beginning, but I was not sure about it until Peter Söderlund (Swedish closer) cleared track 17 on the last team lap.

I was an incredibly tough and fun team competition to play. All creds to our German opponents, that’s how all competitions should be.

HB: This was your debut in an international championship. Was it as expected or what were your thoughts before the tournament?

SV: It was as I thought. It was very good that it was training schedule. It would otherwise have been the risk that you have trained too much 

HB: And then Friday came and the stroke play finals. You never gave the rest much of a chance and in the end your victory margin was incredible 14 strokes on 8 laps. It seems like you almost didn’t know how to miss? Was this your best tournament of your life?

SV: Absolutely. I thought I played well on the Swedish championship this year, but this tournament was so much better even.

HB: Then you were very close to win also in the match play finals. Was the loss in the sudden death against Horst Brandstätter a big disappointment for you?

SV: I was not so inspired for playing the match play finals on Saturday morning. But when I won the first game, then I wanted to win it all. So yes, I was disappointed immediately after the loss in sudden death. But soon I was pleased as soon as I had realized what incredible championship I actually made.

HB: You also took two world records (5 and 6 laps of felt) with your game in Appelscha and equalized the record for one lap. How does it feel to be the world record holder?

SV: Great fun and something I am very proud of. Before I became the world record holder I did not even know there was the world record. So now I can focus on new records 

HB: Looking back on Appelscha, which is the single moment that you remember the most?

SV: I have so many wonderful memories but here are a few:
• The silence on the arena when I played the track 17 and 18, on the round that I set course records of 22.
• To stand on the podium and hear the national anthem, I must learn it until next time .
• All the nice people I got to meet.

HB: Has your success been noticed coming back to Sweden?

SV: The club has congratulated, job, friends and neighbors have celebrated me. There have been newspaper articles in a local newspaper in Örebro and even in a local newspaper in Ludvika as well. And also lots of congratulations from players around in Sweden.

HB: You have played all your life for your club Örebro, which is a club around top 10 in Sweden. Have you ever thought of or even have offers to play in higher ranked club?

SV: I've thought about it at some point in time, but I like being where I am and we have great fun together.

HB: Now the international audience has seen your skills on felt. Are you as good also on the other surfaces?

SV: Is not nearly as good today, but I know how to play on these surfaces and I would like to get a chance to defend my title next year on eternit and concrete. So I think I can do a good championship if we get as good a chance to prepare ourselves like we did this year.

I have also talked to some players who will help me to become better at the faster surfaces.

HB: Who are the best players (men and ladies) in the world at the moment by your opinion?
SV: I have no idea.

HB: Will we be seeing equally much of you in the 2014 season?

SV: I thought it was so fun to play in the national team, so maybe I will make a real effort in practicing on the faster surfaces, and hence to try take a place in the national team in 2014.

HB: Again a big congratulation to the European Championship titles and good luck in the future.

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